O what an eve of sorrow sets Upon a morn so gay Whole years of weeping may not wash Ashamed that in a passing trance Earth is a vale of tears, I said- There is no sorrow here! J. A. L. The above refers to the affecting death of Miss Bathurst, who was drowned in the Tiber a few years ago, under circumstances which may well excuse in the mind of an Englishman a brief reverie on the banks of the river. TO THE EDITOR OF THE CHRISTIAN MADAM, I HAVE been anxious for a very long time to do a something for the distressed Irish clergy, and I trust the LORD has pointed out to me a means whereby some little help may be afforded to those of whom the world is not worthy. I am the wife of a beneficed clergyman, who, after devoting forty years to the labours of a school and the ministry, lately resigned the former, in order to devote himself to the latter. With a large family, and a very small income, it was necessary that I should exert myself: I have accordingly commenced a school, and I beg to inform you of my determination, hoping it will be followed by every lady and gentleman who are similarly employed. I have at present four pupils, with a prospect of six others; when these are added to my number, I engage to take a daughter of an Irish clergyman to maintain, clothe, and educate; and for every additional ten pupils, another. And I engage by GOD'S permission, so to educate this child or these children, that they shall be enabled to provide for themselves, at the expiration of five years, or less, according to their age and attainments when admitted; I promise that she or they shall be treated as my own children, and I shall think it a delightful privilege to be permitted in this humble way to work for the LORD. Now, do you not think that if such a plan could be adopted in all the schools in England in which religion is the basis of instruction, great good might result? The children of the persecuted Irish clergy, will, I believe, be blest and prove a blessing. Then may we hope that these beloved ones, scattered through England, Scotland, and Ireland, will still carry on the glorious work of evangelical education, progressing and progressing! The work is great-the means easy. If you think the plan worth a thought, give publicity to it, and permit us to come to you, for our claims on the Irish clergy; we are anxious to take from them that which is of greater value than tithes or even life; but we promise to return their treasures greatly improved and greatly embellished. If you approve this plan, and will lay it before your readers, it may induce some of our Christian sisters to unite their labours with those of A DEVONSHIRE SCHOOL-MISTRESS. [The benevolent writer of the foregoing letter has given us her name; and we present her communication to our readers, with a confident hope that many may be led to follow her example. Poor Ireland's persecuted Church will yet find how, God's purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour: The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.]-EDITOR. Review of Books. MEMOIRS OF THE REV. JOHN NEWTON, formerly Rector of St. Mary, Woolneth, &c. With selections from his Correspondence. Seeley and Burnside. We are glad to see this volume: it brings into one point of view all that has hitherto been scattered about in various directions, concerning that most loveable christian man," the old African blasphemer;" as he, in the deep abasement of unfeigned humility, never ceased to characterize himself. We have, first, his own celebrated "narrative," interspersed occasionally with illustrative and explanatory extracts from his letters-published, be it remembered, under his own sanction-and the few closing incidents of his valuable life are supplied from the pages of Mr. Cecil's work. Of course, this volume advances no pretension to originality, except in a new arrangement of what has long been before the public. For ourselves, we must acknowledge that, after an intimate acquaintance of fifteen years with its general contents, we read the volume through, without a diminution of the interest excited by a first perusal of the thrilling "narrative." Newton's character is one in which the spiritual eye can rest with such feeling of sober delight as is enjoyed when the eye of natural taste takes in, with leisurely survey, the noble proportions of a mighty edifice, combining with grand design, and chaste execution, a purpose of national utility. Some acquaintance with his theological writings is needful to acquire a just appreciation of the man in his spiritualized state; and who ever regretted the moments passed over Newton's Cardiphonia, or any other production of his pen? On the other hand, the perusal of his singular history appears almost necèssary to give us right views of the astonishing power of Divine grace in him; when we see all that was base in his natural character utterly cast out: all that was lovely, refined and doubly beautified. We should be sorry to be without this pleasing record of dear John Newton. It is well known that Claudius Buchanan owed his establishment in the faith, instrumentally, to Mr. Newton. We were much struck with that young inquirer's touching appeal, in his first anonymous letter to his pastor. How many, alas! in the congregations of our most favoured ministers, might echo the complaint, and join in the petition. "You say many things that touch my heart deeply, and I trust your ministry has been in some degree blessed to me: but your subjects are generally addressed to those who are already established in the faith, or to those who have not sought God at all. Will you then drop one word to me? If there is any comfort in the word of life for such as I am, O shed a little of it on my heart.... To-morrow is the day you have appointed for a sermon to young people. Will |